PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Bambi Zoleta tried to be strong when she failed to win the gold medal in the soft tennis competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

But when her older sister – Bien – came over to hug her, all the emotions that were quietly simmering underneath blew out, sparking the most heartwarming moment in the soft tennis competition of the biennial meet late Wednesday at the National Olympic Stadium here.

"I really tried to hold back the tears when we were still in the middle of the court," the 31-year-old Bambi said following a tough 3-4, 4-7 loss to Dwi Rahayu Pitri of Indonesia in the gold medal match of the women's singles event.

"But when she (Bien) came in to hug me, I finally broke down. Getting a hug from a family member, especially from your sister, is different. It is truly special."

Bambi and Bien have been training and competing together since they were kids.

They studied elementary and high school at Maryhill College in Lucena City while actively campaigning in various age-group tennis tournaments.

Then, Bambi took up BS Hotel and Restaurant Management at College of Saint Benilde, the same school where her sister was studying AB Consular and Diplomatic Affairs.

When Bien was 17, she decided to try a new sport – soft tennis.

"When I was in tennis, I didn't experience playing in various international competitions like the SEA Games, Asian Games and Worlds so I couldn't consider myself as a national athlete," the 34-year-old Bien said in an online exchange with Daily Tribune.

"That's why when they asked me to play soft tennis, I agreed immediately. I know that in this sport, I will get a lot of opportunities."

The switch paid off as Bien ruled the women's singles event and the doubles event with Bambi when Manila hosted the SEA Games in 2019.